News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-27

| crew III portsmouth; TO keep her IN the
trade, and to keep themselves fair with
| the head crew there. And the whole
crew was mad after Nancy Dedman.
| Nancy stood to it that she'd marry Young
Kemp; and they gave her time of it,
a reg lar persecution as ever you'll find
in Fox'e Martyrs, short of the stake we'll
| say. But Nancy were none of their kit
| tie sort; she stood to her say-and one
| day when they was out of the house but
not far off, for they never left she alone,
jim Kemp crawled in from among the
bracken shed advertised he of the dan
ger) and tells as his father was Just dead
and he must have an end of this, and
will she fix the day? He said as how
he'd come and take her away by force,
If need be, he and some of his old mates :;
and as she was puzzling how he could
get lot Of sailors all of sudden, (you
see she know'd nought of the coast
guards business,) Dick looked in at the
doorl and his face was the DEVILS own
as it flashed to he that there stood the
man as had nailed him in the mill and
had him to prison. ssAnd Nancy saw him,
and Jim saw him, and turned milk white;
Dicks look was enough to curdle your
O4OOu. 11dllOl Sdlu So YOU
were carving on and we never know'd
it and it was you as told on your own
flesh and blood, and your fathers curse
and mine too Hold there cried
young jim, hitting Dick on the mouth
to stop his curses (they were afraid of
curses there) hold there? She never
knew and he poured it all out as how it
happened, and as how he was always
thinking on Nancy, and so giv'd up the
coastguardsing, part on her account and
part on his fathers. But before he had
ended Dick were gone, and Nancy was
all on heap with naught to say-but
her look cut up young Jim, and no mis-
take. won't say but that he deserved
it-for he'd been double with her -
through love on her, no doubt, but it's
allays best to be straight, and so he felt
too late, and that had he spoke truth
when he told his love he could but ha'
lost her once, and now he had lost her
twice, and the losing on her respect
were worse nor the losing she.
''She were wonderful power of
woman for all as was in her, and she'd
had little love except from Joe, and he
were dead. So she said to Jim she for
gave him, but it were all to an end be-
tween they; she'd love he all the days,
but she couldn't wed her brothers muir
derer. That were all.
''Well, the next on it was that when
they found as she'd given he up they
believed she had naught to say to it,
and was kind to her agin; as kind as
they ever was, and that warn't much;
but she was unaisy, and knew them too
well to think as they 'ud let Jim Kemp
be. Whyever Dick hadn't killed him
there and then she could not tell. But
one night she were to bed, and she
heard some I'm come in to the room
next; her room were but lean-to, and
they slept in the big room. And she
heard deal of whispering, and then
they took to drinking, and their voices
kemp's name, and the night after next !
named, aud back from Weyhill Fair
and 'a-nlgh his gate and ten on u.s. |
and the rest will be there tomorrow,
we four and they six, that's ten And |
then they gets noisier, and Dick, who |
always kept his head, hushed some one
on 'em up, and turned him out into the |
shed, and all was still. Nancy knew |
now what was brewing. But how to |
get at Jim? how to advertise he? He |
would be off to Weyhill long afore she
could get to he, and she couldn't get |
out without going through the room
with Dick in it, or through the window
into the shed with the stranger there.
Not that they were strangers, for she'd |
know'd their voices; they was of the !
Portsmouth crew.
"What should she do? how should |
she save her loverl for he was her loger.
and she know'd it. She know'd that,
though she could never wed with he,
she could never love another. Mavhap
there was som'at strange in her manners,
for all she made as though she was
cheerful like, or may be it were from his
own knowing what was coming; any
how Dick looked sharply after Nance all
next day, and the day after too. 1t
were hot, dry summer, and the DAYS
were long, and there was a full moon
that night, and no doubt that was the
more convenient; not but what the Ded-
mans could make their way blindfolded |
anywhere over the country round, and |
all their crew.
''Dick went off somewhere to seven. |
and said, careless like, as Nancy had |
best not wait, for he and the old man |
had business away, and would not be |
back till very late mayhap, mayhap |
earlier. Nance waited till he was gone. |
then she took her flint and steel and |
fastened the door, and went to the shed |
and took the nag, (they had only left |
the old mare@ she didna' wait to bride |
she, but off she went as fast as the wind |
for Holder Hill, over to the sou'west !
from here. And she rode and rode and
went up the hill, up to the Beacon Point,
and there was the bonfire all laid ready, |
as dry as finder, and she struck and
struck and the third time she got
flame. and soon the beacon was blazing
and no mistake; and she rode and she !
rode toward Breakdown until the poor
beast could go no longer, so she got off
and let her go. And Nance walked and |
until all on a sudden the light
sprung up on Blackdown, and she knew
as sure as if she saw him that her trap
had taken, that Jim had seen the fire on |
Holder. and instead of going home had |
turned off to light up Blackdown.
''lt was the war time, you see, and he
we're keen for the cause, and was the
iTst once before to help light the signal.
And she hurried on and came up to he,
and he turned around. and cried, why, |
Nancy, lovel is it you? There's been
some victory, you may depend" And |
she, she were out of breath and could |
scarce speak; but she knew as sure as
tate her brother and his crew would
come after their prey. You see they
had worked SO long together, these !
Dedmans, one seemed to guess the
others thoughts like; and she knew as
when the time went by, and Jim did
not come home, and they saw the light
on Holder Hill and sudden the light on
Blackdown, they would guess as how it
were Nancy; or maybe only think Jim
was there instead of coming home
However it be, she felt they would
follow up there, 80 she cried: Flv, Jim,
fly as quick as you can, down that wav.
No! not home! Be off, be off! awav as
far as you can go. Take your horse and |
go! They're after ye to murder We, and |
lit the fire on Holder to turn you from
going home. They be waiting for you.
and now maybe they'll be following Won
up here. Give me your coat and hat.
Jlm-see, I've none. I'm cold, And |
go Jim-go; can't go with you. Jim.
Goodbye, lad! Oh, lad, l love you,
lad" And the stupid, thick headed |
fellow as he was. he took off his lone
riding coat and his slouch hat and puts
them on her, and takes her in his arms
and she gives him one kiss and sends |
him off. He steals down as quiet as a |
mouse, untethers his nag, and off he
goes London way. And Nance2 She |
stood with her arms folded, her face to
the fire and her back to the path. SO as